Can car insurance companies look up police reports?

Asked by: Ms. Karolann Tillman  |  Last update: September 11, 2025
Score: 4.5/5 (17 votes)

Car insurance companies check police records through a systematic process that involves collaboration with law enforcement agencies. When an individual applies for or renews their car insurance, the insurer typically requests permission to access their driving record, which includes information from police records.

Do car insurance companies share information with police?

An insurance company can provide the police with the following: Location, time, and date of the accident. Policy type and liability coverage amounts. Vehicle details.

Does filing a police report make insurance go up?

It's not the police report that will affect your insurance, its the ticket you were written that will do it. A few states let you take a driver improvement course to clear it from your record but most just make you pay higher insurance for a while.

What information do insurance companies have access to?

An insurer can only access your medical records if you give your permission for them to do so. If you agree to let them go through your medical history, they'll contact your doctor and will look at your records over the last five to ten years.

What database do car insurance companies use?

C.L.U.E. (Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange) is a claims history database generated by LexisNexis enabling insurance companies to access consumer claims information when they are underwriting or rating an insurance policy.

Should You Report Your Car Accident To Your Own Insurance Company?

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What are insurance companies not allowed to ask you?

If you're applying for health insurance, pregnancy status or plans to have children shouldn't come into the conversation. Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), pregnancy is considered a pre-existing condition, and insurers cannot deny coverage or charge higher premiums due to it.

Do insurance companies check court records?

Criminal record information, including arrest records often not tied to outcome, are available online, and increasingly modeled and used in multiple areas, including insurance.

Can you get car insurance with a felony?

The chances of paying out a large bodily injury claim or being sued for damages make issuing a policy to a driver with a driving felony an unwise investment. An insurance company can deny you a policy due to the risks associated with your driving history. In most cases, you won't have recourse against the company.

Can car insurance find out about previous accidents?

Yes, it's possible for the insurance company to use a prior accident. They may use this information to demonstrate that you're a high-risk driver and that you were at fault for the accident rather than their policyholder.

Do insurance companies wait for police report?

It might take only a few days, or it could take a month. Police reports are not evidence per se, but can provide information about other parties or the accident site so that's why claims adjusters want police report copies.

How much will my car insurance go up after a claim?

By State. You can expect the most elevated car insurance rates post-accident in California, where the average increase is more than 74 percent. Increases are less than 25 percent in Rhode Island, in contrast.

Can insurance deny a police report?

Sometimes, the opinions of the insurance company and the police officer are different, and as a result, even if the police report is in your favor, the insurance company may deny your claim.

Does insurance have access to accident reports?

Since the insurance company doesn't automatically receive a copy of the police report after an accident, you'll have to look up your accident report online.

Do insurance companies have a shared database?

Do auto and homeowners insurance companies share my information about claims? Yes. There are specialty consumer reporting agencies that collect and report information about the insurance claims you have made on your property and casualty insurance policies, such as your homeowners and auto policies.

What to do if someone falsely claims you hit their car?

Report the Incident

You don't want them to hear from the other party first. Be detailed: Provide them with all the information you've gathered—photos, videos, witness names, and details about the incident. Ask for advice: Your insurance company will guide you on how to proceed and whether further action is needed.

Does a criminal record affect car insurance?

Felonies and misdemeanors can affect your car insurance only if they impact your driving record. There are several misdemeanors that will show up on a driving record, including a first DUI, reckless driving, driving with a suspended license, and driving without insurance.

Do insurance companies do background checks?

One of the most proactive things an insurance company can do is perform routine background checks for pre-employment screening and/or agent/broker checks. It's the premiere screening strategy to help stave off crimes before they occur.

Do felons pay more for insurance?

These same factors can also affect your insurance cost. Even if you're approved, the insurer may require you to pay higher premiums to account for the increased financial risk it's taking on. Generally, the more serious the crime and the more recent your conviction, the more impact it may have on cost.

Can insurance companies look up police reports?

Insurers can access a range of information from police records to assess the risk profile of an individual. They review this data to evaluate an individual's driving history and determine the likelihood of future accidents.

How far back does car insurance look?

In California, accidents typically stay on your driving record for a period of three years from the date of the accident. During this time, the accident will be considered a public record and, therefore, accessible by insurance companies, potential employers, and law enforcement agencies.

Can insurance companies see warrants?

The insurance company likely isn't going to see the warrants when they pull your MVR, but they'll definitely see the violations that led to the warrants.

What should I not tell my insurance company?

The insurance adjuster doesn't need to hear your entire life story. Sharing personal anecdotes or irrelevant experiences might even hurt your claim. Stick to the facts and avoid extra details about your family, job history, prior injuries, or unrelated accidents.

What do Insurance companies fear the most?

It's simple: Insurance companies' legal teams hate having to go before juries. Naturally, it's up to juries to apply the law in a fair and even-handed manner. However, it never helps insurance companies to be seen as the villains who are trying to get one over on people in genuine need.

What car insurance companies don't want you to know?

Here are 10 things auto insurance companies don't want you to know.
  • You can hire a lawyer to represent you right after the crash. ...
  • Insurance companies may try to low-ball your settlement. ...
  • The insurance company of the other driver is not your friend. ...
  • If your insurance company denies your claim, you can fight back.